Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-03-23
THE GRANT-HANcOCK TIFF.
Origin of the arrangement between
the Distinguished Generals.

the Distinguished Generals.
A well known major general in the
army this evening gave the true story Of
the original quarrel between Grant and
Hancock. lie said: The facts, familiar
TO some of us. and a. related hS con
temporancous army officers, who. like
myself. met the Russell and Dent families
and young Lieuts. Grant and Hancock
year, agu in ST. Louis, briefly stated. are
these: The Russell family. then living in
ST. Louis, were rich, becoming 81 upon
profitable army contracts which Miss
Russell's father had obtained from the
United States government during and
after the Mexican war. The Dent family,
then residing in the suburbs of ST. Louis,
was poor. The Russell family enter
tained' splendidly. The Dent family did
not minglc in the society Of that city,
but lived humbly and fngally. The
young licutcnants and captains Of our
regular army, who coveted riches and
We're fond of elegant society. visited the
Russells. admired and some cnurted the
rich and accomplished Miss Russell.
''The gay young officers who coveted
riches dill not seek Miss Dent. and there
fore. ii was said, she became just a little
Int envious of the much sought young
lady. A superb young officer won and
carried OFT the rich prize Lieut.. VIM
field Scott Hancock married Miss Rus
SELL. A poor. and not then very pre-
possessing young officer found favor in
the eyes and won the heart OF the more
humble young lady. Lieut.. Ulysses 5.
Grant married Miss Dent. Though for
many years thereafter the homes of those
two families were separated by hundreds
of miles. vet the members were not lost
sight Of each TO the other. Hancock he
came personally popular with the people
of his home in Pennsylvania. and adj
vanced crclitably in the military service;
while Grant. not thus favored ly fortune,
got out Of the army and struggled in
poverty.
NOW" added the major general. with
emphasis, there in that prutracted on
trast of positions was planted the seed,
long dormant. from which sprung the
Grant-llancock quarrel-envy, lmme-
uldltlN uINll NI' ioo vi vi" wal WI llN'
rebellion Hancock was placed in military
charge of the District of Columbia, with
quarters in Washington. The quarter
master in charge Of the district, whose
official duty il wa TO provide Hancock
with quarters for his family residence,
rented a choice dwelling house in WASH
ington for that purpose, and Gen. and
Mrs. Hancock moved into it. There they
were residing when along came from
Virginia Gen. Grant and his family.
Grant outranked Hancock as military
commander. According TO military rule
the superior officer in rank has the abso-
lutte choice Of quarters, and can, if he
will. take possession Of those already oc-
cupied by his inferior.
Mrs. Grant, looking around for a
residence for her family, came upon the
house in which Mrs. Hancock was living.
Mrs. Grant told her husband Of this dis
covery and expressed her desire to occupy
that house. Gen. Grant so informed the
quartermaster, and the latter, as was his
official duty, accordingly made known to
Gen. Hancock that his family must va
cate the premises. Hancock wrote a
letter To Grant d%eprecating that action,
remarking. among other things. that
there were numerous dwelling houses in
Washington equally and some more desir.
able to liz had for the asking. Grant re-
piled in terms which Hancock regarded
as discourteous, and in some sentences
decidedly offensive. The Hancocks inn
mediately vacated the coveted house and
the Grants moved into il.
Some time thereafter, on Fifteenth
street. in front Of the treasury depart
ment building. Grant and Hancock met.
The former. as he afterward stated. was
prepared TO salute the latter and indicated
his purpose. Gen. Hancock observed
Gen. Grant. hut in a marked manner re-
fused 10 peak and passed on. This &C.
currcncr hccoming publicly known some
days thereafter Gen. Sherman voluntarily
intcrpose,l IL mediator. A written cor
respondcnCc between Sherman and Han
cock followed. hut no reconciliation ever
took place between Grant and Hancock,
though Grant frequently expressed hisre-
gret at the ostrangement. Time removed
the ascerbity Of Hancock's resentment.
and he, as we know, was one Of the most
conspicuous among the distinguished men
who attended the funeral Of Gen. Grant"
Washington Cor. New York World.